Late complications in traumatic coronary artery fistula: report of a case requiring surgical repair after 8 years

A full-length cDNA clone for a progesterone membrane binding protein from porcine vascular smooth muscle cells was isolated and the complete nucleotide sequence determined. The cDNA encodes a protein of 194 amino acids with a transmembrane segment. This protein is likely to represent the first steroid membrane receptor or a part of it for which sequence information is available.     

Monte Carlo simulation of the sol-gel process for the hydrolysis and polycondensation of tin tetra-n-butoxide

The sol-gel process for the hydrolysis and polycondensation of tin tetra-n-butoxide in butanol was followed by viscosity measurements. The precipitation of tin-containing ultrafine particles was observed without any variation in the solution viscosity in the absence of diethylene glycols, while the viscosity increase was made without any precipitation by the addition of diethylene glycol. The induction period and the rate of the viscosity increase after the induction period was independent of the diethylene glycol content but depended upon the water content. The Monte Carlo simulation data were consistent with data for the viscosity experiment. The simulation was based on a kinetic model of the slow hydrolysis of tin tetra-n-butoxide, the reverse reaction of hydrolysis, and the polycondensation of the hydroxy derivatives.     

Relationship between crystallinity and device characteristics of In‐Sn‐Zn oxide

We have reported that the transistors having the c‐axis‐aligned crystalline (CAAC) In‐Ga‐Zn oxide (IGZO) show good performance. Recently, In‐Sn‐Zn Oxide (ITZO) has attracted much attention because of its high electron mobility, as well as IGZO. However, it has been reported that ITZO field effect transistors (FET) tend to have positive Vth (normally‐on characteristics) and poor reliability compared with IGZO‐FETs. We have reported that high‐performance and high‐reliability OS‐FETs can be fabricated by using CAAC‐IGZO, which has high crystallinity and has no clear grain boundaries, as an active layer. Therefore, we have fabricated CAAC‐ITZO thin films to improve performance of ITZO‐FETs by using CAAC‐ITZO as an active layer. In addition, FETs employing CAAC‐ITZO have better characteristics and reliability than FETs using nano‐crystal ITZO. Furthermore, constant photocurrent method (CPM) measurement was carried out in order to estimate density of deep‐level defect states caused by oxygen vacancies in oxide semiconductors. The results show that CAAC‐ITZO has lower density of deep‐level defect states than nano‐crystal ITZO. We attribute the improvement in reliability of ITZO‐FETs to a decrease in deep‐level defect states of an ITZO active layer, as is the case with IGZO.     

Evaluation of Desulphurization Flux in CaO‐Al2O3‐BaO‐CeO2‐MgO System

The flux of the CaO‐Al₂0₃‐BaO‐CeO₂‐MgO system as a desulphurization flux containing no fluorine for the secondary metallurgy process was evaluated in this study. The flux composition was designed using the eutectic compositions of the binary systems. The melting and desulphurization abilities of the fluxes were evaluated by measuring their liquidus temperatures and the distribution ratios of sulphur between the fluxes and the carbon‐saturated iron or stainless steel. The lowest liquidus temperature of 1325°C was obtained by adding 5.7 mass% MgO to the 80mass%A‐20mass%B flux. (A: 12CaO‐7Al₂O₃, B: BaCeO₃+12mass%Al₂O₃). The distribution ratios of sulphur and sulphide capacities of the fluxes in this study were higher than those of the commercial product of calcium aluminate flux. This means that the CaO‐Al₂O₃‐BaO‐CeO₂‐MgO fluxes developed in this study have higher desulphurization and melting abilities compared with the commercial product of calcium aluminate flux.     

Observation of residual stress and defects in silicon induced by scribing

Residual stresses induced by three scribing methods, diamond point scriber, laser scriber and diamond blade saw, are studied quantitatively by infra-red photoelasticity. It is clear that diamond blade saw scribing is most desirable, for residual stress induced by it is several times smaller than the stress caused by the other methods. The stress gradient differs between the laser scribed sample and the others, probably because of the difference in stress generation mechanism. Removing the damaged layer by etching reduces residual stress. The three scribing methods are also studied by the observation of defects after annealing and the results are compared with those determined by photoelastic measurement.     

Enhanced activity and stability of Pt/C fuel cell anodes by the modification with ruthenium-oxide nanosheets

Ruthenium-oxide nanosheet (RuO₂ns) crystallites with thickness less than 1 nm were prepared via chemical exfoliation of a layered potassium ruthenate and deposited onto carbon supported platinum (Pt/C) as a potential co-catalyst for fuel cell anode catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity towards carbon monoxide and methanol oxidation was studied at various temperatures for different RuO₂ns loadings. An increase in electrocatalytic activity was evidenced at temperatures above 40 °C, while little enhancement in activity was observed at room temperature. The RuO₂ns modified Pt/C catalyst with composition of RuO₂:Pt = 0.5:1 (molar ratio) exhibited the highest methanol oxidation activity. CO-stripping voltammetry revealed that RuO₂ns promotes oxidation of adsorbed CO on Pt. In addition to the enhanced initial activity, the RuO₂ns modified Pt/C catalyst exhibited improved stability compared to pristine Pt/C against consecutive potential cycling tests.     

Performance of ternary PtRuRh/C electrocatalyst with varying Pt:Ru:Rh ratio for methanol electro-oxidation

Highly dispersed ternary PtRuRh/C anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells were prepared with various contents and their electro-catalytic activities towards methanol oxidation at 25 °C and 60 °C were examined to investigate the influence of the catalyst composition. Electrocatalysts were prepared by a co-impregnation method using ethanolic solutions of metal precursors and carbon black followed by pyrolysis under reducing conditions. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the fcc peaks shifted to higher diffraction angles with increasing Rh content, indicating the alloying of Rh into the fcc structure. In terms of the mass specific current density, the activity towards methanol oxidation differed significantly depending on the catalysts composition and cell temperature. The catalyst prepared at a ratio of Pt:Ru:Rh = 1:1:2 exhibited the highest activity at 60 °C of 155 A (g-Pt)⁻¹ at 0.5 V vs. RHE.